"The union is strength"? An analysis of cultural differences and the mechanisms of group in Business Networking

Abstract

In a global environment characterized by high competitiveness, organizations are establishing partnerships with companies from other regions, rival companies or even companies that operate in different businesses. Among the types of partnerships, the strategic alliance (business networking) is increasingly used as an alternative. The organizational arrangement of the type business network is typical to group people with different characteristics, cultures and values. This partnership requires the meeting of different cultures, submitting the companies involved to a new challenge: the management of organizational multiculturalism. Thus, this article aims to discuss cultural differences of companies which set up on a business network. It also seeks to reflect on possible ways for companies to deal with such situations, as the formation of a single culture, but giving attention to the strength of groups that can act in a conflicting way.